Engineering biology for a sustainable world
As we look for ways to protect our environment and support the health of billions across the globe, we turn to nature’s own processes to provide the answers.
Biotechnology is enabling us to find new and more sustainable ways to produce chemicals, materials, and everyday products, by understanding and harnessing biological processes and applying them at industrial scales.
By engineering biology, we can create more environmentally friendly agricultural products, produce human therapeutics quickly and at a lower cost, and reduce carbon emissions from key industries while also divesting those industries from petrochemical feedstocks.
Supported by the internationally recognised Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, our 400+ experts are innovating solutions to key challenges in environmental sustainability, clean energy, health, and sustainable manufacturing.
Our research covers
- Sustainable farming and managing waste safely and efficiently.
- Exploring sustainable agricultural practices in food production and the use of fertilisers and pesticides.
- Utilising bioremediation to help manage environmental pollutants and maintain a healthy world.
- Harnessing natural processes to develop new energy sources to replace fossil fuels.
- Using waste as a feedstock to produce sustainable fuels and mitigate harmful GHG emissions.
- Supporting the government, businesses and our communities in divesting from fossil fuels.
- Producing medicines more efficiently without the need for harmful chemicals.
- Identifying new ways to recognise disease, accelerate diagnosis and improve patient outcomes.
- Working collaboratively across life sciences and health communities to understand and develop new ways to improve health across the world.
- Developing sustainable, efficient and cheaper production methods for everyday products.
- Using nature’s own mechanisms to uncover new manufacturing techniques and reduce our reliance on solvents and high energy-use processes.
Key institutes
Tomorrow Labs
Discover our cutting edge facilities where you can access the expertise and equipment you need to address your biotechnology research needs.
Events
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ECR networking (and mince pies)
4 December 2024, 3pm-4.30pm
This is an internal event aimed at University of Manchester early career researchers, from PhD students to academics. This is a networking event, designed to foster community creat.. -
Celebrating Interdisciplinary Sustainability Research
12 December 2024, 10am-4.30pm
Celebrating Interdisciplinary Sustainability Research will be the theme of this year's Sustainable Futures’ Annual Conference, an event showcasing interdisciplinary sustainabilit..
Connect with us
For business
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- Gain access to some of the brightest minds working across our research pathways to help you make change happen.
Search our research database
- Use Research Explorer to access publications, activities and more.
- Search researcher profiles and connect with fellow experts.
For policy work
- Connect with our researchers to build relationships, explore areas of interest and enhance your understanding of pressing policy challenges.
- Access high quality policy articles and publications from our academics.
General enquiries
Speak to our research beacons team who can help connect you with the expert you're looking for.
Research at Manchester
Find out more about the breadth and depth of research at our University.